Tech & Gadgets

Apple's HomePod is now available in Canada

Tech & Gadgets

Apple's HomePod is now available in Canada

The tech giant's innovative voice-activated smart speaker promises to enhance the music listening experience while also helping you accomplish everyday tasks—all with just your voice.

Apple's highly-anticipated smart speaker, HomePod, has finally made its way to Canada. The latest in hands-free, voice-controlled speakers for the home promises to be the ultimate music authority and helping hand, all at the command of your voice. Here's what you need to know before investing in HomePod.

THE SPECS
At under 7 inches tall, under 6 pounds and coming in your choice of white or space grey, HomePod combines Apple-engineered audio technology and advanced software to set a new audio quality standard for a small speaker. It has been specifically designed to offer clean base and pure high-frequency acoustics, so it’s able to preserve the quality and intent of original music and podcast recordings in any room. Furthermore, this smart speaker is built with six microphones positioned around the device, so there's no need to raise your voice when saying "Hey Siri", even when you're across the room with loud music playing.

LISTENING TO MUSIC
The smart speaker is optimized for use with an Apple Music subscription and promises to take the listening experience to a whole new level. With the intelligence level of Siri and access to Apple Music's endless song library, it'll learn what you like and will help you discover similar music you'll love. How? When you're digging a song, say "Hey Siri, I like this" and this will tell HomePod what kind of tunes you're into through Apple Music. When you say "Hey Siri, play something I'd like," get ready to hear your favourite tunes through HomePod as well new music similar to the ones you like.

Don't have an Apple Music subscription? Not a problem. With Airplay, you can play music through HomePod from different streaming sources, and audio from movie, video, news, sports and audiobooks sources. If you're not feeling the music on a particular day, just ask Siri to play your favourite podcast.

When paired with another HomePod speaker, both work together to create a wider, more immersive listening experience by using spatial awareness to sense their location in the room and then automatically adjusting the audio to sound perfect wherever it's placed and sound great together. With AirPlay 2, you can create a wireless multi-room audio system to play music in any room from any room. You can also move music from one room to another or play the same song everywhere in your home with a HomePod, an iOS device, Apple TV or by just asking Siri.

EVERYDAY TASKS
Checking the weather, sending messages and setting timers and reminders has never been easier—all you have to do is ask Siri through HomePod. Simply activate the voice assistant by saying "Hey Siri" followed by what you'd like her to answer. You're also able to control a wide range of HomeKit smart home accessories and catch up with the latest headlines directly to HomePod from CBC, CTV, Global TSN and other apps.

THE COST
Retailed at $449 CAD, HomePod is definitely an investment, but if you've already bought into a few Apple HomeKit accessories or just love every Apple product, then forking over that cash won't be an issue.